The best defence against moisture

Ready for take off !

In a remote part of the world, located on a high altitude location and exposed to severe and hostile weather conditions, stand surface to air missiles.

These missiles require a response time quicker than the speed of an attaching aircraft. The controls for commanding the activation of these weapons are also exposed to the same environment. In due course, uncontrolled humidity takes its toll on the electronic system, fuel area and the warhead bay. The command to activate the weapon gets thwarted by the damage caused by humidity. Bry-Air dehumidifiers were used to keep the equipment flushed with dry air, to protect it from moisture damage. This is not the only example of how Bry-Air helped solve the moisture problems in the Defence Industry, but it certainly is an example of the diverse uses, dry air could be put to in military applications.

Military preparedness for active service is of prime importance to armed forces all over the world. Storage of steel and metal products presents major problems where air is humid and there is a big variation in temperature during the twenty-four hour day, causing condensation resulting in corrosion of material.

Military hardware and equipment in storage like tanks, missiles, ammunition, gearboxes, engines and even replacement parts and stores are highly susceptible to changes in humidity.

Spoilage due to mold, mildew and fungal decay of stored uniforms, leather boots, batteries, tyres, maps, records, microfilms, foodstuffs, etc. are caused by condensed moisture on stored material. Temperature fluctuations can produce wide ranges of humidity leading to condensation and provides a base for organic corrosion to set in.

Deterioration of gunpowder, ammonium nitrate and solid fuel takes place rapidly on being exposed to humid conditions. If the humidity goes above a critical level, the material will absorb moisture, causing agglomeration and rendering it useless.

Weapons systems and electronic systems, in particular are prone to breakdowns if let in an atmosphere of uncontrolled humidity.

The best defence against moisture

Dehumidification as a technique for preservation against moisture attack is not a new phenomenon in the defence sector. The most widespread early application was in naval warships and the result was so successful that it was adopted as a standard technique. It is being used now for military and industrial warehouses for parts, subassemblies or finished goods.

Warehouse storage calls for sealing the space against infiltration as far as is practical. Dehumidifiers are strategically placed for controlling the moisture in the storage area. The air temperature inside the building is cool but dry. In order that the equipment be kept rust-free and brought into operation quickly, small dehumidifiers provide an economic solution through cocooning for storage.

Bry-Air dehumidifiers have been successfully used by the military the world over for long-term and short-term storage, providing considerable savings in operating costs, building construction and safer storage.

Bry-Air dehumidifiers provide the best protection against humidity in all temperature conditions.

(Reproduced from Bry-World - Bry-Air International Newsletter, Issue 3)